Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has introduced an ordinance to mandate the replacement of all lead service lines in the city.

The ordinance was introduced as thousands of city residents deal with high levels of lead in their drinking water.

Baraka’s ordinance would come at no cost to the city’s residents. It would greatly speed up the replacement of the lead lines.

If the ordinance is passed, Newark would become to the first major city in the United States to require a total replacement of lead service lines.